About “Tiangong Kaiwu”
The Tiangong Kaiwu, or The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, is a Chinese encyclopedia compiled by Song Yingxing. It was published in May 1637 with financial support from Song's patron, Tu Shaokui. The book covers a broad range of technical subjects, including the use of gunpowder weapons. During the Qing dynasty, copies of the book were rare in China, but original copies were preserved in Japan. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Book details
- Published
- 1637